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Western Kentucky Physics Olympics is a half-day competition consisting of a pentathlon of challenging problem-solving activities that reward teamwork, creativity, and communication. The WKU Department of Physics & Astronomy invites each high school to send one or more teams of four to compete in the 2012 Western Kentucky Physics Olympics. This year's event will be held Saturday, February 18 from 8:30 a.m. until about 2:00 p.m. in the Thompson Center, Central Wing on WKU's Bowling Green campus.
The competition will commence with two activities that involve competitors arriving at the event ready to compete with devices they
have designed, constructed, and tested. The competition entitled Naked Egg Transport requires each team to design, construct, and use a package to safely transport a shell-less egg through harrowing circumstances. For the Submarine Maneuvers each team will assemble and test a submarine vessel, powered solely by mechanical energy that can descend and complete passage through a prescribed course before ascending within a target zone. This year's "Calculation/ Communication Challenge" is
entitled Tsunami Epicenter, and will require each team to divide into pairs and cooperatively share the process of determining the location of an undersea earthquake.
Registration
Teams can register online at
http://physics.wku.edu/olympics/registration.html.
The registration deadline is Thursday, February 13.
Schedule of Events
|
Time |
Activity |
Location |
|
8:00 |
Mandatory check-in for all teams |
TCCW 201 |
|
8:30 |
Results announced for Naked Egg Transport |
TCCW 201 |
|
8:45 |
Submarine Maneuvers competition begins |
TCCW 129 |
|
11:00 |
Order-of-Magnitude Quiz begins |
TCCW 201 |
|
11:30 |
Lunch |
TCCW 238/239 |
|
12:15 |
Calculation/Communication Challenge begins |
TCCW 201 |
|
1:10 |
Impromptu Team Activity
begins |
TCCW 236 |
|
1:45 |
Awards Ceremony |
TCCW 201 |
Prizes
Each of the four contestants on the team with the best score in the
overall competition will receive a $500 scholarship to attend Western
Kentucky University. The scholarship is to be used during the freshman
year and is awarded above and beyond any other scholarships the
student might otherwise earn.
Medals for the team members and a plaque for the school will be
awarded to the top 3 teams in the overall competition. Certificates
will be awarded to the top three teams in each event.
Snow Date
In case of cancellation due to inclement weather, Physics Olympics
will be rescheduled for the same times on an alternate Saturday to be
announced.
